n30nex · n30nex · Sep 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026 · Sep 21, 2026
diff --git a/.github/workflows/verify.yml b/.github/workflows/verify.yml
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Check out pinned suite source
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Check out the five RadioCore product repositories
+      - name: Check out RadioCore and Solar BLE source pins
         run: |
-          git submodule sync -- firmware/rc52-companion firmware/rc52-headless-companion firmware/rc52-repeater firmware/rcc6-companion firmware/rcc6-mqtt-repeater
-          git submodule update --init --depth 1 -- firmware/rc52-companion firmware/rc52-headless-companion firmware/rc52-repeater firmware/rcc6-companion firmware/rcc6-mqtt-repeater
+          git submodule sync -- firmware/rc52-companion firmware/rc52-headless-companion firmware/rc52-repeater firmware/rcc6-companion firmware/rcc6-mqtt-repeater firmware/heltec-v42-solar-companion
+          git submodule update --init --depth 1 -- firmware/rc52-companion firmware/rc52-headless-companion firmware/rc52-repeater firmware/rcc6-companion firmware/rcc6-mqtt-repeater firmware/heltec-v42-solar-companion
       - name: Validate catalog and submodule pins
         run: python scripts/verify_catalog.py
diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 [submodule "firmware/heltec-v4-companion"]
 	path = firmware/heltec-v4-companion
 	url = https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4.git
+[submodule "firmware/heltec-v42-solar-companion"]
+	path = firmware/heltec-v42-solar-companion
+	url = https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4.git
 [submodule "firmware/deskos-meshcore"]
 	path = firmware/deskos-meshcore
 	url = https://github.com/n30nex/DeskOS-MeshCore.git

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -134,6 +134,22 @@ These frames were captured from the OLED framebuffer running on the physical Hel
 
 Capture provenance and checksums are recorded with each device gallery under [`docs/images`](docs/images).
 
+## Heltec V4.2 Solar BLE companion
+
+[Solar BLE RC1](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/tag/v1.17.1-v42-solar-ble-rc.1)
+is a separate test candidate for the original Heltec V4.2 with a single-cell
+LiPo and regulated 5 V solar input. It retains standard MeshCore/MeshMapper
+BLE access and continuous LoRa receive, reduces idle overhead, and adds
+60-second battery checks after protective low-voltage sleep.
+
+USB startup and a phone connection were checked on one V4.2. Battery-only
+reconnection, discharge/recharge recovery and overnight endurance remain under
+test; desktop BLE reads have timed out and are being investigated. The board's
+approximately 540 mA solar charger and lack of cell-temperature charge control
+remain hardware limits. V4 R8 is excluded. Read the
+[installation and test guide](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/download/v1.17.1-v42-solar-ble-rc.1/START_HERE.md)
+before using the [Solar BLE flasher profile](https://flasher.canadaverse.org/?device=heltec-v4&profile=solar-ble-companion).
+
 ## ULP Solar Repeaters
 
 [ULP v1.0.0-rc.4](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-ULP-Solar-Repeaters/releases/tag/v1.0.0-rc.4)
@@ -155,6 +171,7 @@ Each product release is pinned to an exact source commit and artifact checksum i
 |---|---|---|---|
 | Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 + OLED | BLE, native-USB, Ultimate Web companion, or Ultimate Repeater WebUI | [v2.0.0-rc.2](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V3/releases/tag/v2.0.0-rc.2) | Flash the selected app `.bin` at `0x10000` |
 | Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4 + OLED | BLE, native-USB, Ultimate Web companion, or Ultimate Repeater WebUI | [v2.0.0-rc.2](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/tag/v2.0.0-rc.2) | Flash the selected app `.bin` at `0x10000` |
+| Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4.2 + OLED | Experimental Solar BLE companion, continuous LoRa receive | [Solar BLE RC1](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/tag/v1.17.1-v42-solar-ble-rc.1) | App-only update at `0x10000`; read the test guide |
 | RC52-L62 + NV3001B TFT | BLE or native-USB companion with NeonPocket UI | [v1.1.0-rc.4](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-RC52/releases/tag/v1.1.0-rc.4) | Copy the selected `.uf2` to the RC52 bootloader drive |
 | RC52-L62 without TFT | Screenless BLE companion; pairing PIN `123456` | [v1.0.0-rc.1](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-RC52-Headless/releases/tag/v1.0.0-rc.1) | Copy the BLE `.uf2` to the RC52 bootloader drive |
 | RC52-L62 | Headless low-power repeater | [v1.1.0-rc.2](https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-RC52-Repeater/releases/tag/v1.1.0-rc.2) | Copy the repeater `.uf2` to the RC52 bootloader drive |
@@ -179,12 +196,13 @@ Exact install filenames, sizes, SHA-256 values, release links, and source commit
 
 ## Source layout
 
-The ten firmware histories intentionally remain separate because they target different chips, bootloaders, transports, displays, and deployment roles. This repository indexes them as pinned Git submodules:
+The firmware histories and separate release candidates remain pinned independently because they target different chips, bootloaders, transports, displays, and deployment roles. This repository indexes them as Git submodules:
 
 ```text
 firmware/
   heltec-v3-companion/
   heltec-v4-companion/
+  heltec-v42-solar-companion/
   rc52-companion/
   rc52-headless-companion/
   rc52-repeater/

diff --git a/catalog.json b/catalog.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "schema": 1,
-  "suite_version": "1.10.0-rc.3",
+  "suite_version": "1.11.0-rc.1",
   "products": [
     {
       "id": "heltec-v3-companion",
@@ -48,6 +48,33 @@
         {"name": "NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4-Ultimate-Repeater-Web-recovery-preserves-settings.bin", "size": 1180944, "sha256": "7551875a375a2fec1273b720f6244a7d27cdbecf37d633d4ccaeb71dd969b151", "url": "https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/download/v2.0.0-rc.1/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4-Ultimate-Repeater-Web-recovery-preserves-settings.bin"}
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "id": "heltec-v42-solar-companion",
+      "hardware": "Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4.2 with integrated OLED, 16 MB flash and 2 MB PSRAM; V4 R8 excluded",
+      "role": "Experimental solar BLE companion with continuous LoRa receive and timed low-battery recovery",
+      "repository": "https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4",
+      "release": "https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/tag/v1.17.1-v42-solar-ble-rc.1",
+      "tag": "v1.17.1-v42-solar-ble-rc.1",
+      "commit": "183a0eec45e440f9cd0a496884e5a3247a90c78d",
+      "submodule": "firmware/heltec-v42-solar-companion",
+      "profiles": [
+        "solar-ble-companion"
+      ],
+      "artifacts": [
+        {
+          "name": "NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4-Solar-BLE-app.bin",
+          "size": 1291504,
+          "sha256": "8bdb99e2d6cd044cadc784ea00b341f336bdefb0722390b9773910349e2db3e9",
+          "url": "https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/download/v1.17.1-v42-solar-ble-rc.1/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4-Solar-BLE-app.bin"
+        },
+        {
+          "name": "NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4-Solar-BLE-recovery-preserves-settings.bin",
+          "size": 1357040,
+          "sha256": "953dc458d641b9766cd280085cdd54889a6110bdc7fe55512348a1f07cd88b3c",
+          "url": "https://github.com/n30nex/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4/releases/download/v1.17.1-v42-solar-ble-rc.1/NeonPocketMC-Heltec-V4-Solar-BLE-recovery-preserves-settings.bin"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "id": "rc52-companion",
       "hardware": "Heltec RadioCore RC52-L62 with NV3001B TFT",

diff --git a/firmware/heltec-v42-solar-companion b/firmware/heltec-v42-solar-companion
diff --git a/scripts/verify_catalog.py b/scripts/verify_catalog.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     data = json.loads(CATALOG.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
     assert data["schema"] == 1
     products = data["products"]
-    assert len(products) == 10
+    assert len(products) == 11
     ids: set[str] = set()
     names: set[str] = set()